TOPLINE
Activists from a Brazilian NGO dug 100 graves on a beach in Rio de Janeiro Thursday to symbolize the country’s roughly 40,000 Covid-19 victims, only for a man to knock down some of the crosses shortly after, illustrating how divisive and politically charged the pandemic has become in Brazil.
An aerial view of symbolic graves dug into a beach Thursday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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KEY FACTS
Members of Rio de Paz gathered at Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach just before dawn Thursday to dig 100 shallow graves in the sand in memory of pandemic victims and to demand the federal government to step up.
But Antônio Carlos Costa, the founder of Rio de Paz, posted on social media that fans of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro heckled activists as they dug, with one man going as far as to rip the crosses out of the mock cemetery ground.
The pandemic has become increasingly divisive in Brazil, as Bolsonaro has seen his popularity fall though he retains the support of about 30% of Brazilians, according to The Guardian.
Bolsonaro has consistently downplayed the threat of the virus and has repeatedly attacked social distancing measures implemented by Brazil’s state governments, calling them “poison” and saying a weakened economy could kill more than the virus itself.
“The president has not realized that this is one of the most dramatic crises in Brazil’s history,” Costa told Reuters. “Families are mourning thousands of dead, and there is unemployment and hunger.”
It’s not the first time Bolsonaro’s fans have caused a ruckus in recent weeks, as some of Brazil’s largest media outlets announced two weeks ago a media boycott of Bolsonaro’s official residence out of concern for the safety of reporters following months of verbal attacks by Bolsonaro supporters.
KEY BACKGROUND
Brazil counted more than 772,000 total confirmed Covid-19 cases on Thursday, and almost 40,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University, making it the country with the most cases after the U.S. and the third most deaths, after the U.S. and the U.K.
Activists from the Brazilian NGO Rio de Paz dug graves in Copacabana Thursday.
AFP via Getty Images
Volunteers dug 100 shallow graves symbolizing the COVID-19 deaths in the country.
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Some of the graves were flanked with Brazilian flags.
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The graves were dug in the memory of victims of the virus and to protest against Brazil’s “bad … [+]
AFP via Getty Images
The dig was organized by activists part of the Brazilian NGO Rio de Paz, or Peace Rio in English.
AFP via Getty Images
Some of the protesters wore protective gear as they dug.
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Protesters used the dig to call for transparency and an attitude change from President Jair … [+]
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The same day the graves were dug, supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro knocked down the … [+]
AFP via Getty Images
Rio de Janeiro, where the graves were dug, has seen nearly 75,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases since … [+]
AFP via Getty Images
FURTHER READING
Graves dug in Rio beach to protest handling of COVID-19 pandemic (Reuters)
Bolsonaro supporter destroys Brazil beach memorial for 40,000 coronavirus victims (The Guardian)